The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology

SBA 560: Damper Sizing 101

A control loop that hunts all day may not have a controls problem. The real issue could have been locked into the system before the controller was ever programmed. In

SBA 559: How to Coordinate with Electrical and Mechanical Contractors

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we tackle one of the most common sources of friction on a controls project: coordination between electrical, mecha

SBA 558: IP Security Fundamentals

Building automation systems are more connected than ever. That connectivity brings new capabilities, but it also changes what you need to know to design, install, and mai

SBA 557: Valve Sizing 101

A control valve can look right on paper and still create control problems in the field. For building automation professionals, valve sizing directly affects what you se

SBA 556: Reading Catalog Sheets for Technicians

Most building automation professionals have done it. Open the catalog sheet, find the wiring diagram, glance at it, and move on. What if the information you skipped i

SBA 555: Windows Services and Task Scheduling

Most building automation professionals know how to work inside a BAS. Fewer know what keeps that BAS running behind the scenes. When Windows services or scheduled tasks

SBA 554: Why BAS is a Great Career Choice

Most career conversations focus on college or the traditional trades. But what if there's another path that offers strong earning potential, constant learning, and oppo

SBA 553: BAS Fundamentals for Building Operators

If you're responsible for keeping a building running after the installation is complete, how confident are you with the building automation system you use every day? Ma

SBA 552: IP Networking Troubleshooting Commands

Every building automation professional will eventually face a controller that goes offline, graphics that stop updating, or trends that suddenly disappear. The question

SBA 551: Job Site Safety

Every day on a building automation job site, you make decisions that affect more than just the success of a project. They affect whether you and your team go home safely.

SBA 550: Proper Panel Wiring and Layouts

This episode tackles a topic that impacts every BAS project but rarely gets the attention it deserves: control panel design and wiring. The quality of your panel affect

SBA 549: IP Troubleshooting in BAS

If your building automation devices are moving to BACnet/IP, troubleshooting communication issues requires a different mindset than checking wiring and terminations. A

SBA 548: Performing a Job Site Walk for Owner-Direct Projects

Owner-direct BAS projects can be some of the highest-margin opportunities you'll encounter. They can also become some of the riskiest. The difference often comes down t

SBA 547: Proper Project Closeout

What happens after the BAS project is "done" often determines whether the system actually performs over the next 10 years. Too many projects reach substantial completio

SBA 546: VPN and Remote Access in BAS

Remote access is no longer optional in building automation. But every connection to your BAS can also become a pathway for risk if security is treated as an afterthought.

SBA 545: How to Perform BAS Sales Takeoffs Without Missing Scope

If BAS sales takeoffs feel inconsistent, the issue usually is not the tools. It is the process. Episode 545 breaks down how to create accurate BAS takeoffs that protect

SBA 544: Functional Testing vs Commissioning

If you've ever been on a project where "commissioning" meant checking a few points and signing off, you've seen the problem firsthand.   Confusion between functional

SBA 543: Access Control Fundamentals

Access control issues don't wait for a convenient moment. You're on-site, the clock is ticking, and the door isn't behaving the way it should. What you do next defines yo

SBA 542: UL Panel Design

If you work with control panels in building automation, the design behind them impacts more than you think. Safety, troubleshooting speed, and future scalability all st

SBA 541: Service Call Triage - Is it the BAS or the HVAC?

You get the call: "comfort issue." That is all the detail you have. Now you are stuck deciding where to start, how to diagnose faster, and how to avoid wasted time betw